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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

Richard Garriott - Man On A MissionDirector: Mike Woolf

Last year Richard Garriott became the first son of an astronaut to go to space, but this is no millionaire’s joy ride, he pioneered private space travel to make his dream come true: from his training in Russia to his launch in Kazahkstan to the dramatic, never before seen footage inside the capsule during fiery re-entry, this is a historic moment in human space travel.

collectSPACE connection: my pre-flight interview with Richard (see: 1 | 2), which was conducted inside the full-scale Skylab trainer at Space Center Houston, was filmed for this documentary and I have heard from director Mike Woolf that a portion of that interview did make it into the final film.

gliderpilotuk

...but this is no millionaire’s joy ride, he pioneered private space travel to make his dream come true.

...or as Wikipedia puts it: "Garriott launched aboard Soyuz TMA-13 to the International Space Station as a self-funded tourist."

The Explorer's Club, New York City, will on June 12 be showing two films: "Orphans of Apollo" which tells the story of Mir Corp., the first commercial attempt to run a space station outside of a government agency and "Man On a Mission," the tale of Richard Garriott's visit to the ISS on board a Soyuz spacecraft, which picks up the tale of private spaceflight where Mir leaves off.

Ticket prices are $20 whether or not a member. Students with ID are $5.

garymilgrom

Any plans for DVD or Blu Ray release?

Robert Pearlman

Man on a Mission will be released into theaters in New York and Austin by First Run Features on Jan. 13, 2012. Theaters in Cleveland and Seattle will follow.

Cinema Village, New York, Jan. 13

Alamo Drafthouse, Austin, Jan. 13

Cleveland Museum of Art, Jan. 25

SIFF Cinema, Seattle, Feb. 10

The documentary will also be available beginning in January through all major U.S. cable systems' on-demand features. A home video (DVD/Blu Ray) will follow.

I just finished watching an advance copy of the film and thought it was excellent.

In addition to capturing Richard's own story, Man on a Mission includes extensive footage taken inside the Soyuz during the rendezvous and departure from the space station of the length and detail I have yet to see anywhere else (of particular note is the footage taken inside the Soyuz during its "soft landing" in Kazakhstan).

(And here's an easter egg: I make a very brief cameo — you can see the top of my head as the camera captures Richard with his Soyuz crewmates posing for photos at Johnson Space Center.)

Cozmosis22

Saw the documentary at SXSW last year in Austin. Astronaut Mike Fincke made a surprise appearance on stage with Garriott after the showing for a rather lively Q&A.

Can't remember if it was during the film or afterwards but Richard expressed a tiny bit of angst at how the Russians had upstaged him by sending up Sergei Volkov, son of Soyuz 7 cosmonaut Vladimir Volkov, right before his mission. That was after Garriott had bought his ticket intending to be the first offspring of an astronaut traveler to go into space.

Robert Pearlman

The list of theaters debuting "Man on a Mission" today (Jan. 13) has expanded since last November to include locations in Florida Illinois and Michigan, with more states following in the weeks to come.

The film is also scheduled to be available on-demand through most U.S. cable and satellite companies beginning today.

BMacKinnon

I just watched the movie today (OnDemand). From developing the first computer role playing games to making a lot of $ and losing a lot of it in the stock market crash, this is a nicely done film on Richard's background, training and flight to the ISS. Great footage in Russia of the rocket prep and launch. Plus some nice moments with his father. Also, stay tuned to the end credits for a TMI description of going to the bathroom in space using toothpaste to describe what happens.

space4u

Thanks for the tips Brad. I've got tickets for the Cleveland Museum of Art at end of January.

arjuna

It's also now available for rent on iTunes.

Lasv3

...and on Amazon as well. Any known updates on the DVD release date?

onesmallstep

I saw the documentary at its New York premiere last Friday, with Richard Garriott and the filmmakers in attendance for a Q&A after the showing.

The movie itself is fascinating, especially the training and pre-launch rituals observed at both Star City and Baikonur. As a railroad enthusiast, I was especially interested in how the Soyuz booster was transported to the pad-an old technology helping a futuristic one. Even though two local papers called it a 'vanity project' and a 'puffed-up home movie', for us space followers it of course is catnip.

At the Q&A session, Garriott elaborated on his quest to obtain a seat on a space mission, especially compared to other fare-paying 'tourists'; he specifically took an experiment along and also participated in an eye exam to test his vision, as he underwent Lasik surgery in Canada long before it was common in the US.

When I asked him how he compared his Soyuz launch with his father Owen's two launches in a Saturn IB and shuttle, he said it was pretty smooth, like a ballet-like lift. As for the reentry, a little drama was thrown in the movie because the capsule he returned in was repaired in-flight after two previous missions reentered nose-first after a separation malfunction.

All in all, en enjoyable evening with an autograph, two mission patches and a space book thrown in as premiere movie 'swag'...

Just got around to watching it. Very entertaining. I learned a few things about Soyuz training and life on the ISS, and it's inspiring even for those of us who'll have to wait for the $30 m cost of entry to the club to come down a bit. I highly recommend it.

Philip

Probably the best DVD on the ISS era!

Hart Sastrowardoyo

Man On A Mission will be making its Philadelphia premiere Apr. 21 at the Franklin Institute. Tickets are $10.

Cozmosis22

quote:Originally posted by arjuna:I learned a few things about Soyuz training and life on the ISS, and it's inspiring even for those of us who'll have to wait for the $30 m cost of entry to the club to come down a bit.

As we all know now that $30 million fee had doubled. This great DVD "Man on a Mission" is available now from the independent films provider and on sale for $20.96.

john ffoulkes

$17.93 on Amazon.com

OWL

Having recently watched Man On A Mission on a in flight movie and its subsequent release on the US format is there any plans of a release for the UK market?